Jessica Branson | Partner
A seasoned marketing executive with 25+ years of experience, Jess is known for her people-first approach. She is an “on demand” brand strategist and growth marketer who builds relationships, culture and results. Jess thrives in fast paced environments, leading strategy, creative and account leadership through innovative media, marketing and digital solutions.
Her tour of duty includes consulting businesses across CPG, Beverage, Food, Alcoholic Beverages, Beauty, Personal Care, Health & Wellness, OTC, Biotech, Retail, Household/DIY, Auto, DTC, Start-Ups and Non-Profits including some of the most recognizable brands such as Coke, Nestle, Unilever, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Trojan, Burt’s Bees, Schick, Summer’s Eve, Jeep, Home Depot, Moen, Philips, Flex Seal, The Olympics, NCAA, Red Sox, NYC Marathon, Chase and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Jess has repositioned countless brands with unconventional strategies (Trojan: Protection & Pleasure), resurrected declining businesses with performance media and positioning (Summer’s Eve: TikTok Influencers), engaged consumers with purposeful experiences (Poland Spring’s Boston Marathon 2013 Post Bombing “Raising Spirits”), developed innovative products in uninspired & low interest categories (Flex Seal Flood Protection) and created award winning campaigns driving unprecedented sales at shelf (Perrier “Nice Cans”, Burst Bees “Natural Beauty Bar”).
She brings a dual sided perspective to business, solving marketing challenges from the brand side and from the agency side. This POV makes her highly sought after and uniquely equipped to manage business holistically.
Jess’ agency roster includes Fusion 5 (WPP), Velocity (Dentsu), Colangelo (Omnicom), Ryan Partnership (Publicis Epsilon), Inspira and Diray Media (Independents). She has worn both the account management and business development hats (often together) and has endured and mastered many challenges that come with four agency acquisitions. (That’s for a separate conversation).
Building, differentiating and growing these brands has been incredibly rewarding, but her client relationships, resultant friendships and community efforts are what she cherishes most. Jess is a longtime Westport (CT) resident whose father, an Episcopal priest, and mother, a therapist, raised her in the heart of town. Among the many values her parents instilled in her, “leading with empathy” has been pivotal. Jess’ approach is to listen, nurture and grow ideas to engage people in a more creative, holistic and purpose-filled life. “I am a people person. I love to connect with others, inspire ideas, share stories and delover action. Making these connections lights me up, and as a lifelong competitor, delivering results fills my cup.”
Growth and grit are what define Jess in both her personal and professional life. She contracted Guillan Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological autoimmune disease that paralyzed her for over 10 months. After a year in a wheelchair with no use of her hands, she regained her mobility through a beloved team of medical professionals, tenacity and perseverance. This experience changed her profoundly and inspired her to help people and businesses through the power of storytelling. Her mantra? “You never know when your story will become someone else’s survival guide.” Brene Brown
Jess is a graduate from Colgate University, lived abroad in Sydney, and has resided in Westport since 2001. She and her husband Bill, also a longtime Westporter, love the water, beaches, boats and all things Boston sports. She vows to get back to Australia where she relished the bluest waters, though Bill doesn’t totally know yet. 😊